Apparatus for cleaning bottles



June 3, 1930.

R. R. MCKECHNIE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES Filed Feb. 2, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet June 3, 1930. RR. M KECHNIE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES R R M KECHNIE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES June 3, 1930.

1925 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 2;

" MM I June 3, 1930. R; R. M KECHNIE 1,761,450

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES Fi'led Feb, 2 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 3, 1930. R. R. M KECHNIE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES Filed Feb. 2, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT R. MGKECHNIE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CLEVELAND TRUST COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES Application filed February 2, 1925. Serial No. 6,191.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning bottles, and has for its general object to provide an apparatus for'this purpose wherein bottles may be cleaned most effectively, in a comparatively short time, and with the employment of a relatively small number of operations. Y

The apparatus shown and described herein is one which is designed to carry out, in an efficient manner, the process set forth and claimed in the application of Charles H. Loew, Serial No. 744,493, filed October 19, 1924, which has matured into Patent No. 1,642,419, granted September 13, 1927. The said apparatus comprises generally an elongated casing divided by partitions into several soaking tanks or com artments' arranged in series, with means or jetting and rinsing the bottles prior to and'after their transit through such tanks and for cleansing with acid, with water, and with brushes, the interiors and exteriors of such bottles.

The apparatus referred to is shown in the drawings, wherein Figs. 1 and 1' show jointly a longitudinal sectional elevation of said apparatus; Fig. 2, a sectional side elevation of the mechanism for treating the interiors of the bottles with acid; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view through the apparatus, also showing the lastmentioned mechanism; Fig. 4, a detail in section of a )art of the acid tank and one of the pumps or forcing the acid into a bottle thereabove; Fig. 5, a plan view of the top of such pump; Figs. 6 and 7, details in section corresponding respectively to the lines 61-6 and 7.7 of Fig. .4; Fig. 8, a view, similar to Fig. 4, showing a modification of the invention; Fig. 9, a detail in plan of the pump shown in Fig. 8; and Figs. 10

and 11, details in section correspondingrespectively to the lines 10-10 and 11- 11 of Fig. 8.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, and with respect to Figs. 1-7, inelusive, A denotes an elongated casing havinga bottom wall 1, a rear wall 2, a front wall 3, side walls 4, ahd a cover wall 5. The rear wall is provided with a transverse opening 2 for the passage of an endless conveyor on which the bottles are mounted and conducted through the casing.

The bottom wall of the casing is shown as supported by hollow transverse members 6 upon longitudinal sills 7 which in turn are carried by transverse members 8, 8 The front member 8 supports the front ends of the longitudinal sills or members 7 also a pair of uprightposts or members 9. 10 and 11 denote partitions dividing the part'of the .casing between the walls 1, 2, 3 and 4 into means of which the bottle conveyor is driven,

together with the sprocket wheels 15, 16, 17,

18,19, 20 and 21, arrangedwithin the casing.

The sprocket wheels 15 are mounted in the rear of the casing and above the tank B, While the sprockets 16 arein said tank. The sprockets 17. are mounted above the tanks B and C and the sprockets 18 within the tanks C. The sprockets 19 are mounted above the tanks C and D, while the sprockets 20 are within the latter tank. The sprockets 21 are mounted so as to project in art above the level of theliquid in the tan D. The

sprockets referred to support'the bottle conveyor and cause the conveyor and the transverse series of bottles therein to pass in operative relation to the various parts of the apparatus by which the bottles are treated.

The shafts for the sprockets are indicated at 13 14 15 16*, 17*, 18, 19 20 and 21; and one such shaft is shown as adjustably. mounted in bearings 19", whereby the slack of the conveyor may be taken in from time to time, as necessary.

Each tank is provided with a support which is adapted to be engaged by the bot: toms of the bottles on the conveyor, thereby to prevent such bottles from dropping out of the conveyor as the latter is driven through the tanks.

The support in the tank B comprises a sheet metal member which extends across the interior of the tank and which is of sufficient width to engage the bottoms of each transverse series of bottles on the conveyor. The said member comprises a rear wall 22, the upper end of which is curved to conform to the curvature of the bottle conveyor ad acent thereto, as shown at 22, the lower end of the wall 22 being curved about the shaft 16 (preferably concentric with such shaft) as shown at 22", the said member also comprising a wall 22 extending upwardly and forward- 1y from the curved wall 22.

A similar member is provided in the tank G, and the parts of the same which correspond to like parts of the member 22 are indicated at 23-23, inclusive. The chamber D contains a similar member, the corresponding parts of the same being indicated at 2424, the wall 24, however, being substantially vertical, with its upper edge below the top of the liquid.

Immediately below the opening 2 in the rear wall of the casing is a tank F, formed by the rear wall 2 and the side walls 4 of the casing and having a bottom wall 25 and a front wall 26 which is substantially parallel with the top 10" of the wall 10; The walls 22, 23 and 24 are substantially parallel with each other and with the ,walls 26, 10 and 11.

Within each ofthe tanks B, C and D is a steam heater, indicated at B, C and D, respectively, each of the heaters being connected with a trap B C D respectively, by pi es B C D respectively, the said traps Being provided with a common pipe 27, the said pipe receiving its steam supply from any suitable source.

Extending across the top of the tank E is a screen 28. From the bottom of the tank E a pipe 29 leads to a pump 30 driven by a motor 31. The receiving end of the pipe 29 is covered by a screen E within the tank E.

Water pumped from the tank E is delivered to a pipe 32 and from said pipe to various cleaning or rinsing stations, as will be explained. p

A continuation 32 of the pipe 32 extends over the top of the casing and to the rear thereof and delivers'into a transverse spraying head'33 located above the'tank. F, said head being provided with nipples '33, one for each bottle in each transverse series brought intermittently thereabove by the conveyor.

Within a casing M provided in part by and below the forward end of the cover 5 are'located rotary brushes 34 arranged to operate upon the bottoms of bottles therebeneath. Above such brushes, within the casing, are a pair of transverse spraying heads 35, each extending above a brush 34 and arranged to discharge thereon liquid supplied through the pipe 32 and a connection 35.

From the pipe 32, a pipe 36 extends through the tank E and into the tank D. where it is formed into a heat-receiving coil 36, whence it extends upwardly, communieating at its end with a transverse spraying head or manifold 37, provided with jet orifices adapted to discharge liquid upon the bottoms of bottles therebeneath.

Extending from the pipe 36, below the head 37, is a connection 36 by which the liquid is delivered into a jet box 38 having two transverse series of nozzles 38 adapted to discharge water under pressure into the interiors of the bottles thereabove.

Below the head 37 and the box 38 is a tray 39 which is adapted to collect the waste water from the said head and nozzles and deliver the same through a pipe 40 into an overflow pipe 41 communicating with the upper portion of the tank E, below the strainer 28.

42 denotes a flexible pipe connecting the pipe 32 with a vertically movable box 43 having projecting therefrom the internal rinsing tubes 44, the said tubes being guided by sleeves 45 on a tray 45. A flexible tube 46 also connects the pipe with a box 47 which is preferably connected to the box 43 so as to be movable therewith, as by means of a bracket 47 From the box 47 extend hollow stems 48 having rinsing brushes 49 at the upper ends thereof, said stems being guided by sleeves 45 on the tray 45. p

A transverse drive shaft 49 lifts the boxes 43 and 47 through an arm 50 and a link 51, the downward movement of the boxes and attached parts being counterbalanced by a Weight 52 carried by an arm 53 connected to and extending from said shaft. A countershaft 54 moves the tray 45 and the sleeves 40 in synchronism with the boxes 43 and 47. through an arm 55 and link 56, the tray and the parts supported thereby being counterbalanced by the weight 57 on the arm 58.

Two transverse series of brushes 49 are shown. The bottles are held against upward displacement by reason of the thrustof the brushes 49, by means of the bottom clamps 59, mounted in the frame 60.

The parts 4260, inclusive, form in their getails no part of the invention covered here- 61 denotes a pipe delivering the ordinary cold city water to a transverse spraying header 62, which discharges the cold water on the bottoms of bottles, the interiors of the corresponding series of bottles being rinsed with such cold, clean water from a box tiil mounted upon the tray 45 and provided with a series of transverse nozzles 64 arranged to discharge into the bottles as they are brought successively thereabove. The box 63 is connected to the pipe 61 by means of a flexible tube 65.

. of'eccentrics 68 each connected by a stra I bore, provided within the central portion of delivery end .ofthe machine there is provided a platform 67 on which the cleansed bottles from the conveyor are discharged.

Reference has been made hereinbefore to the treatmentof the bottles with acid. For this purpose, I employ a type of pump which has demonstrated its efliciency and which is capable, not only of withstanding the action of the acid without injury to itself, but which will prevent the acid from splashing upon.

and injuring other parts of the apparatus.

The part of my apparatus for treating the bottles with acid consists of transverse series' of acid pumps, the said pumps being carried by a vertically reciprocable tank, with means for moving the said tank to bring the pumps into engagement with the mouths'of the 1nverted bottles 'thereabove and with means movable toward and engaging the bottoms of the bottles to hold the latter against vertical. displacement-{through the engagement of the mouths ofthe bottles by, the pumps. The detailed construction by which the re: sults 'are accomplished is shown in F lgs. 2 to 7, inclusive.

67 denotes a shaft which extends, trans versely of the casing and has thereon a pair 69 and an arm 70 with the bottomof the aci tank G. This tank and the walls 4 of the apparatus are provided with cooperating guides G and G for the tank durin' its vertical reciprocations. Mpunted in t e top. wallor cover G of the tank are the acid pumps, one of which is indicated generally at H. Above the tank is the conveyor, indicated generally at. J and carrying the bottles K in inverted position. Above the bottles and the conveyor is a frame work, indicated generally at L and carrying the clamps or bottom-supports, indicated generally at ltd. v

In operation, the conveyor is advanced intermittently through thetank or apparatus,

. whereby each transverse series of bottles thereon is subjected successively to the ViLI'lous cleansing operations. After passing over the sprockets 21, the conveyor is supportedby rollers J upon angleiron rails M carried by the sidewalls 4 of the casing. Each transverse link or segmentof the conveyor comprises a bottom wall J 2 having downwardly flared mouths J struck therefrom, for engaging the tapered necks of the bottles K. The upper wall J of each link or segment is provided with openings for the bodies 01 the bottles. g

Each pump H comprises generally a piston having a cupped seat for the mouth of a bottle, a cylinder movable with and carried by the tank and adapted to force acid solution through thepiston into the mouth of a bottle upon said seat, and means for draining back the acid solution into the tank, together with other details which will'now be explained. I

Each cylinder com rises a cylindrical wall 71 threaded into a ange 72 on top of the tank and extending downwardl within the tank nearly to the bottom thereo the portion of the cylinder wallwithin the tank being indicated at 7 3 and having its bottom closed, as

shown at 74.

The piston for the pump comprises a piston member having a cylindrical side wall.

7 5 provided with liquid packing grooves 75, the bottom or head of the cylinder comprising a wall 76, from the center of which a tube 77 projects upwardly. The head 7 6 is provided with a vertical cylindrical collar into which is threaded a cylindrical sleeve 79. The bottom of the head 76 is reduced and threaded for the reception of a disk 80 which supports an annular flap valve 81 which is adapted to cover openings 82 in the head 76, between the parts 7 5 and 7 9.

The upper end of the cylindrical sleeve 7 9 is threaded into a recess formed in the .bottom of an upwardly and outwardly flared cup 83, said cup being provided with drain openings 83 communicating at their upper ends with slots 83 the slots surrounding the top of the passage 84, 84 provided by the bore of the tube 77 and anextension of such the cup.

Thecup is provided with .an outer cylin drical wall 85 adapted to telescope upon the; upper end of the cylinder 71, there being a spring 86 interposed between the cup 83 s and an annular disk.87.surrounding the cylinder 79 and resting upon an annular seat 71 within the cylinder 71.

The part 73 is provided with'openings 73 located below the bottom of the piston wall 7 5, when the latter is in its lowermost position (shown in Fig. 4). The part 73 is also provided with a projection which isadapted to engage the top of the piston wall 75 and assist in the separation of the cup 83 from thecooperating bottle mouth, as will be exlained hereinafter. Thisprojection may be ormed by a screw, indicated at 86.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the frame L comprises an upper plate 89 and a lower plate '90'fastenedto a pair of channel members 91. These channel members are arranged with their webs presented toward eachother, and these webs cooperate with vertical guides 92, secured to the side walls K of the casing, to maintain the frame and the parts M in operative relation to the bottles therebeneath.

It will be noted'that each bottle-clamping member'M' consists generally of a stem 93 ings rovided in the plates 89 and 90, the

top 0 each stem being provided with a stop collar 94 and the bottom with a suitable pad 95 adapted to engage the bottom of a bottle, each stem being provided with a weight 96, above the pad thereon.

For the purpose of operating the frame L toward and from the bottles K, as the tank G is moved toward andfrom the bottles, the following constructionis provided 97 denotes an arm projecting from each side of the tank G through a slot in the adjacent side wall 4. To each arm is secured a link 98. The upper end of each link is connected to one end of a lever 99 by means of a slot 98* in such link and a pin 99 on the lever. Each lever is pivoted intermediatelyof its ends to a side wall 4, as indicated at 99", and the other end of each lever is pivotally connected toan arm 100, each secured at its inner end to the adjacent end of the frame L and projecting through a slot 4 in the adjacent wall 4.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described and the tank G charged with an acid, solutionpreferably a 10% to 30% solution of hydrochloric acid-the transverse series of bottles to be treated in the manner hereinafter described will be brought successively above the pumps H by the intermittent movement of the conveyor.

When the conveyor has been moved forward one step and the movement suspended (as by the use of the well-known Geneva movement) the parts willbe so timed that the shaft 67 will operate to move the tank G upwardly. This movement will enable the frame L to descendby gravity and the clamps carried thereby to engage the bottoms of the bottles.

The upward movement of the tank G will bring the cups 83 into engagement with the mouths of the bottles thereabove. As the cups engage the mouths of the bottles the pistons move downwardly, being cushioned by their springs 86, until the piston heads seal the ports 73, the valves 81meanwhile closing the ports 82. Further upward movement of the tank will force the acid solution through the tubes 84 into the bottles thereabove. This limited downward movement of the pistons, which is'opposed only by their respective springs, serves as shock absorb ing means to prevent fracture of the bottles through the engagement of their-mouths'by the seats upon the tops of the pistons.

The parts are so proportioned that the ports 83' will not allow the liquid to drain back into the sleeves 79 as rapidly as it is discharged into and from the bottles. This will cause the solution to cover the mouths of the bottles to about the level indicated in Figs. 4 and 8, thus cleansing these portions of the bottles.

The upward movement of the cylinders and of the attached parts compresses the springs 86, and the cups 83 will be held in their elevated positions by the springs, as the tank starts on its downward movement, until the stop projections 86 engage the tops of their pistons, whereupon the pistons, cylinders and tank move downwardly in unison. This protracted engagement between the mouths of the bottles'and the cups therefor enables the acid to remain in contact with the exteriors of the bottle mouths before being drained back into the sleeve 79, and thence through the ports 79 and 82 into the cylinder 75.

By virtue of the slidable mouthing of the bottles clamps or supports, the said clamps or supports are adapted to cooperate with bottles of varying length as well as to yield to prevent breakage of the bottles should they be projected with undue force against the said clamps or supports.

The slots'98 enable the links 98 to move upwardly after the cups 83 engage the bottle months, without thrusting the clamps downwardly, itbeing noted that the frame Land attached parts will operate by gravity on theirdownward movement, being held against'too rapid movement by the engagement of the pins 99 with the tops of the slots 98. On the reverse movement of the tank G and the links 98, the bottom clamps are allowed to rest upon the bottles until the stops 88 engage the tops of the pistons, at which time the tops of the slots 98*engage the pins 99 and thereby lift the clamps.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, the entire operation will generally be as follows :Bottles will be delivered from the station N at the rear of the machine into the transverse series of seats provided therefor in the individual transverse elements J of the conveyor. The conveyor will be advanced the width of one such element J by the intermittent drive referred to, bringing the next transverse element J in line with the loading stand N, which element will then be charged with bottles from said stand. The conveyor will be driven in this manner, ste by step; the bottles on each element J will be brought successively above the preliminary rinsing jets 33, where the interiors of the bottles will be washed with water having a temperature of about 110 F. The water from this operation will be discharged into the tank F and permitted to go to waste through the outlet pipe F. From the jets 33, the bottles will be conducted through the soakingtank B, this tank containing ordinary caustic soda solution of about 2% strength and havinga temperature of about 130? F. From the-tank B, the-bottles will I be conducted around the sprockets 17, being emptied during their passage around said sprockets and will then be conducted through the tank C, which contains a caustic soda solution ofabout 4% to 8% strength and having through the tank D which contains caustic soda solution of about 2% strength and having a temperature of about 130 From the various soaking tanks, the bottles are conducted above the nozzles 38,

where they are subjected to an internal rinsing from said nozzles; also to an external rinsing from the spray head 37, the liquid employed for this purpose being lukewarm water having a temperature of about 100 F. The waste water from the last operation will be collected in the tray or tank 39 and be allowed to go to waste through the pipes 40 and 41.

From the last-mentioned station, the bottles are conveyed successively above the two transverse series of acid pumps G, the operation of which has been described at length hereinbefore, it being noted that the acid,

which is preferably hydrochloric acid of from- 10% to 30% strength and having a temperature from 90 F. to 110 F., is supplied under pressure to the interiors of the bottles thereabove, with anintermediate draining space for each transverse series of bottlesybetween the two transverse series of pumps G.

Following the treatment by the acid, the

bottles are conducted to the external brush ing station, where the bottoms are operated uponby the brushes 34 in conjunction with hike-warm Water supplied'through the heads I 35, the bottles being internally rinsed or cleansed by the jets of water supplied from the box 43 and tubes 44. The li uidemployed for this internal rinsing throug the tubes 44 is water having a temperature of about 110 F. a y

The bottles are then conducted above the internal brushing and rinsing spindles 48, where they are brushed and rinsed, using lukewarm water at about 110 F. Finally, the bottles are conveyed above the pressure box 63, where they are rinsed internally with cold water supplied from the pipe 61, and externally with cold water from said pipe through the spray head 62. y

By reason of the treatments given by my apparatus, bottles which heretofore have been considered to be incapable of cleaning with bottle-washing apparatus with which I am familiar have been successfully, thoroughly and quickly cleaned. In other apparatus with which I am familiar, it has been impossible to clean bottles which have been used for grape juice. However, through the operation of my apparatus, such bottles and other bottles that have defied ordinary cleaning apparatus have been cleaned thoroughly and efiiciently.

In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, there is illustrated a modification of the'acid pump shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive. In these views'G denotes the acid tank and G the cover therefor. The cylinder of the pump is shown at 100 and is provided with two or more rounded projections 101 at the bottom thereof, which projections are adapted to be inserted through correspondingly-shaped openings 101* in the upper bottom wall of the tank G.

After the lugs or projections 101 have been vided with an enlargement 104 providin an annular shoulder 104 onits upper face. his

- shoulder forms a stop which is adapted to be engaged by the tank on its downward movement, in t gages the piston in my prior modification. To permit the tank to engage this stop, the iston above the shoulder 104" is surrounded y a collar formed by a pair of symmetrical members 105 each having a semi-annular lower end 105 adapted to fit within a circular opening in the cover Gr of the tank and to engage at its inner edge the shoulder, 104". These members 105 are inserted in place and fastened to the tank cover, as by means of the screws 106.

The upper end. of the piston 103 is formed into a cup 107 similar to the cups 83. Surrounding the upper portion of the piston is a spring 108 which bears at its, upper end and within a recess 107 beneath the cup and at its lower end on a collar formed by the members 105. The piston is provided with a central passageway 109 correspondin to the passageway 84 of the former modi cation and with radial grooves 107 corresponding to the grooves 84, there being in this case asingle drain passage 110 communicatin with one of said grooves and arranged to (fischarge the acid from the cup into the tank.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is p 1. In a bottle-cleanin apparatus, a conveyor having a series 0 seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor,a tank below the said conveyor and having a series of pumps projecting from the top thereof, each pump having a seat adapted to enga e the mouth of a 'bottle and means for yiel ably supporting such seat, each seat having a discharge outlet leading therethrough, means for moving the the i e same manner as the stop 86 enafter the engagement ef'the mouths of the bottles by such seats, for forcing liquid from each pump through the outlet in the seat thereof into the bottle thereabove.

2. 111 a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor and having a series of pumps provided each with a piston having a portion projecting above the top of such tank, the projecting portion of each such piston having a seat adapted to engage the mouth of a bottle and a cylinder and means for yieldably supporting such seat, means for moving the said tank toward and from the said conveyor and the bottles thereon, said piston being operable, through the engagement of the bottle mouths with such seats, for forcing liquid from the said tank into the bottles thereabove.

3. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of cupped seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor and having a series of pumps projecting from the top thereof, each pump having a cupped seat adapted to engage the mouth oi. a bottle and means for yieldably supporting such seat, means for moving the said tank toward and from the said conveyor and the bottles thereon, each pump having means operative, after the engagement of the mouths of the bottles bysuch seats, for forcing'liquid from the said pumps into the bottles thereabove, and means for draining the liquid from the said seats back into the tank, the draining means being of less capacity than the pumping means whereby portions of the mouths or the bottles will be submerged. in liquid accumulating within said seats 4. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor and having a serles of pumps each comprising a cylinder connected to and movable with the tank, a piston within each cylinder having a passageway for supplying liquid from the cylinder into a bottle thereabove, each piston being provided at its upper end with a seat tor the mouth of a bottle and each seat being provided with a cup or depression having one or more drain openings arranged to discharge liquid from the said cup back into the tank, the parts being constructed to provide for an accumulation of liquid within the cup whereby the exterior of the bottle mouth will be submerged in such liquid and means for moving the said tank toward and from the said conveyor thereby to bring the cups of the said pumps into and out of engagement with the bottles thereabove.

5. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series ofseats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank belowthe said conveyor and having a series of pumps, each pump comprising a cylinder connected to and movable with the tank, a piston within each cylinder having a passageway for supplying liquid from the cylinder intoa bottle thereabove, each piston being provided at its upper end with a seat for the mouth of a bottle, a spring yieldingly supporting each piston in elevated position, and means for moving the said tank toward and from the said con veyor thereby to bring the seats on the said pistons into and out of engagement with the bottles.

6. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor and having a series of pumps, means for moving said tank toward and from said conveyor, each pump comprising a cylinder connected to and movable with the tank, a piston mounted within each cylinder and extending through and above said tank and provided at its upper end with a cupped seat for the mouth of a bottle, each piston being provided with a passageway for supplying liquid under pressure to theinterior' of a bottle having its mouth engaged by its seat and being also provided with one or more drain openings to return the liquid from the seat to the tank, a spring surrounding each piston and tending to hold the same in elevated position, and a member adapted to engage each piston during the downward stroke of the tank and cylinders, thereby to cause the pistons to move in opposition to the action of said springs with the cylinders.

7. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor and having series of pumps, means for moving said tank toward and from said conveyor. each pump comprising a cylinder connected to and movable with the tank, a piston mounted within each cylinder and extending through and above said tank and provided at its upper end with a cupped seat for the mouth of a bottle, eachpiston being provided with a passageway for supplying liquid under pressure to the interior of a bottle having its mouth engaged by its seat and being also provided with one or more drain openings to return the liquidfrom the seat to the tank, and means tending to hold each piston in elevated position.

8/1111 a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position. means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor and having a series of pumps, means connected to and movable with the tank, a.

piston mounted within each cylinder and 5 extending through and above said-tank and provided at its upper end with a seat for the mouth of a bottle, each'piston being provided with a passageway for supplying liquid under pressure to the interior of a bottle having its mouth engaged by its seat and being also provided with one or more drain openings to return the liquid from the seat to the tank, a spring surrounding each piston and tending to hold the same in elevated position, and means whereby each piston may have a limited movement relative to the cylinder after the engagement of its seat with the mouth of its bottle and in advance of'the forcing of liquid into such bottle,

9. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the said bottles and the said conveyor and having a series of pumps, means for moving said tank toward and from said conveyor, each pump comprising a cylinder connected to and mov able with the tank, a piston mounted within each cylinder and extending through and above said tank and provided at its upper end with a seat for the mouth of a bottle, each iston being provided witha passageway or supplying liquid under pressure to the interior of a bottle having itsmouth engaged by its seat, means tending to hold eachpiston in elevated position, and means whereby each piston may'have a limited movement relative to the cylinder, after the engagement of its seat with the mouth of its bottle and in advance of the forcing of liquid intovsuch bottle, such limited movement being opposed only by said third mentioned means.

10. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for movin l said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor and having a series of pumps, means for moving said tank toward and from said conveyor. each pump comprising a cylinder connected to and movable with the tank,'a

piston mounted within each cylinder and ex-,'

tending through and above said tank and provided at itsupper end with a seat for the mouth of a bottle, each piston being provided 1 with a passageway for supplying liquid under pressure to the interior of a bottle having its mouth engaged by its seat and being also provided with one or more drain openings to return the liquid from the seat to the tank, a spring surrounding each piston and tending to hold the same in elevated position, and a member adapted to engage each piston during the downward stroke of the tank there-by to cause the pistons: to move in opposition 55 to the action of said springs, each cylinder 7 being provided with one or more ports conimunicating with the tank andnormally iocated below the piston, whereby each piston may have a limited movement relative to the cylinder while being cushioned bv its spring,-

before the liquid will be trapped between the cylinder and the bottom of the piston and forced into the bottle thereabove.

11. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of. seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for 'moving said conveyor, a tank disposed below and movable toward and from said conveyor and having a series of pumps, each pump comprising a cylinder connected to and movable with the tank, a piston mounted within each cylinder and extending through and above said tank and provided at its upper end with a seat for the mouth of abottle, each piston being provided with a passageway for supplying liquid under pressure to the interior of a bottle having its mouth engaged by its seat, yieldable means tending to hold each piston in elevated position, each cylinder being provided with one or more ports communicating with the tank and normally located below the piston, whereby each piston may have a limited movement relative to the cylinder, cushioned by such yieldable means, before the liquid will be trapped, between the cylinder and the bottom of the piston and forced into the bottle thereabove.

12. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving the said conveyor, a tank below the said conveyor, means. formoving said tank toward and from said conveyor, a series of pumps comprising each a cylinder connected to and movable with thetank, a piston mounted within each cylinder and extending through and above said tank and provided at its upper end with a cupped seat for the mouth of a bottle, each piston being provided with a. passageway for supplying liquid under pressure to the interior of a bottle having its mouth engaged by its seat and being cause the piston to move in opposition to the action of the spring with the cylinder, the

cylinders being provided each with one or more ports communicating with the tank and normally located below their respective pistons, whereby each piston may have a limited movement relative to thecyli nder, cushioned by its spring, before the liquid will be trapped between the cylinder and the bottom of the piston and forced into the bottle thereabove,

and yieldable means engaging the bottoms of the bottles during the operation of the pumping means.

1 3. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, a conveyor having a series of seats for supporting bottles in an inverted position, means for moving said conveyor, a tank below the-said conveyor, means for moving said tank toward and'from said conveyor, a series of pumps each comprising a cylinder connected to and movable with the tank, a piston mounted within each cylinder and extending through and above said tank and provided at its upper end with a seat for the mouth of a bottle, each iston being provided with a passageway or supplying liquid under pressure to the interior of a bottle having its mouth engaged by its seat, a spring surrounding each piston and tending to hold the same in elevated position, and a member adapted to engage each piston during the downward stroke of the-tank, thereby to cause the pistons to move in opposition to the action of said springs with the cylinders, and yieldable means timed with the movement of the tank for engaging the bottoms of the bottles during the operation of the pumping means.

14. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, the combination of a conveyor having a series of seats arranged to support bottles in an inverted position, means for moving the said conveyor, a tank below said conveyor, means for moving the tank toward and from the said conveyor, and a series of pumps carried by said tank and comprising each a cylinder secured to the tank and having one or more openings above its bottom for-liquid from said tank, a piston in each cylinder and each having a head with one or more openings therethrough and a valve arranged to close said openings, there being a tubular passageway extending upwardly from each head, and a cupped seat supported from said passageway and adapted to engage the mouth of a bottle on the conveyor thereabove, and a spring surrounding each piston and tending to hold it in elevated position with the bottom of the piston head above the opening or openings in the cylinder, the seat being pro,

vided with means for draining the contents thereof back into the tank.

15. In a bottle cleaning apparatus the combination of a conveyor having a series of seats arranged to support bottles in an inverted position, means for moving the said conveyor a tank located below said conveyor, means for moving the tank toward and from the said conveyor, and a series of pumps carried by said tank and comprising each a cylinder secured to the tank and having one or more openings above its bottom for liquid from said tank, a piston in each cylinder and each having a head, there being a tubular passageway extending upwardly from each head and a seat supported from said passageway and o enin or o enin 's in the c linder.

16. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, the combination of a conveyor having a series of seats arranged to support bottles in an in-.

verted position, means for moving the said conveyor, a tank located below the said conveyor, means for moving the tank toward and from the said conveyors and the bottles thereon, and a series-of pumps carried by said tank and comprising each a cylinder secured to the tank and havin one or more openings above its bottom for liquid from said tank, a piston in each cylinder and each having a lower piston head with openings therethrough and a valve below and arranged to close said openings by liquid pressure, there being a tubular passageway extending upwardly from each head and a seat supported from said head and adapted to engage the mouth of a bottle on the conveyor thereabove, a spring tending to'hold the piston in elevated position with the bottom of the piston head above the opening oriopenings in the cylinder, the cup being provided with means for draining the contents thereof back into the tank, and a projection carried by each cylinder above the piston head and adapted to engage the latter when the tank is moved downwardly away from the conveyor and the bottles thereon.

17. In a bottle cleaning apparatus, the combination of a conveyor having a series of seats arranged to support bottles in an inverted position, means for moving the said conveyor intermittently, a tank located below said conveyor, series of seats carried by said tank and each seat adapted to engage the mouth of a bottle thereabove, each seat having a discharge outlet leading therethrough. means for moving the said tank toward and from the conveyor between intermittent movements of said conveyor, and means operative by the movement of'the tank toward the conveyor for forcing liquid into the bottles by means of the'outlets in said seats, thc distance between adjacent series of seatsheing at least twice as great as the distance the conveyor is advanced by a single intermittent movement, whereby the bottles are enabled to drain between successive treatments from the tank.

18. An apparatus for cleaning bottles comprising means for preliminarily treating the insides and outsides of the bottles with cleaning liquid, a series of acid pumps, each pump having a seat for a bottle mouth, means for removing from the bottles the acid supplied. thereto by said pump, a bottle conveyor having series of seats thereon for supporting the bottles in an inverted position, means for driving the said conveyor to bring the bottles thereon successively in operative relation to the aforesaid treating and remo means and above the aforesaid pumps, an means 7 for moving the pumps to bring the seats 5 thereof into engagement with the mouths of the bottles thereof and to force acid'solution' into said bottles.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

10 ROBERT 'MOKECHNIE. 

